Trimming machine



Jun 24, 1941. F. l. BRANDT TRIMMING MACHINE Filed July 25, 193s @Kfig Jup 24, 1941.

F. L BRANDT TRIMMING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 24, 1941 srrss Matta TRDWMING MACHINE .ll crsey Application July 25, 1939, Serial No. 286,418

18 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus used in the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated herein as embodied in mechanism for trimming the breast portion of a top lift of a Wood heel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for operating on a Work piece and more particularly for effectively trimming off the projecting portion of the top lilt of a Wood heel flush with the breast face of the heel, although it is to be understood that in its broader aspects the invention is not limited to a machine of the type illustrated herein. A feature of the present invention is the provision of instrumentalities requiring that the shoe be presented to the apparatus in such a manner that the projecting portion of the top lift Will be trimmed at the proper angle before the trimming operation can take place.

The apparatus disclosed comprises briey a trimming block with which cooperates a knife to trim oli the breast portion of the top lift of a Wood heel which has already been attached to a shoe and gage means for the forepart of the shoe to insure that the heel of the shoe will be at the proper angle with respect to the trimming block so that the projecting portion oi' the top lift will be trimmed flush with the breast portion of the heel. The trimming block is movable under pressure applied thereto and this movement of the trimming block actuates a single revolution clutch which connects suitable driving mechanism with the trimming knife to cause this knife to move toward and away from the trimming block so as to trim the breast portion of the top lift of the heel presented thereto. The gage means for the forepart of the shoe is suitably connected with latch mechanism which prevents movement of the trimming block under pressure applied thereto through the heel of the shoe, eX- cept when the forepart of the shoe is positioned in engagement with the gage means and pressure is applied thereto through the forepart of the shoe. Thus, upon proper presentation of the shoe to the apparatus and the application of a slight pressure to the apparatus by means of the shoe the trimming knife automatically trims the breast portion of the top lift at the proper angle, but this operation of the trimming knife will not take place unless the shoe is presented at the proper angle, which angle is determined by the gage meansior the forepart of the shoe. This gage means is made adjustable so that the machine may be used for shoes of varying designs.

Other features of the invention will become apparent upon a study of the specification and Lli) lcutting block lil.

drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig, 1 is a horizontal sectional view through one form of apparatus embodying the features of this invention and illustrates the manner of presentation of a shoe to the apparatus for the purpose of trimming the breast portion of the top lift of the heel thereof;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line Il-II of Fig. 1 and illustrates a portion of the mechanism for causing operation of the trimming knife; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed view ci the clutch mechanism of Fig. l With the clutch parts in engagement.

The frame of the apparatus illustrated includes a base plate lil by means of which the apparatus may be suitably secured to any supporting structure, the frame also including a forwardly projecting cylindrical Wall portion l2 for the reception of the cutting block lil. This cutting block is slidably received by the cylindrical Wall portion lil and includes a reduced central portion iii with which cooperate the screws I8 threaded into the Wall portion i2 for limiting the sliding movement of the cutting block lli. Suitably received by the outer portion of the cutting block It is a block Ell of rubber or other suitable material forming a cutting surface with which the trimming knife 22 cooperates. The cutting block may be manually rotated With respect to the cylindrical Wall l2 so as to present ydifferent portions of its surface to the trimming knife 22 in order to increase the life of the block Ztl. The inner portion of the cutting block Ill has an eX- tending reduced portion t2 which slides in a corresponding guide Way through the Wall portion 2t oi the apparatus and forms a guide for the The guide member 22 has its central portion reduced, as at 26, for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out. The Wall portion 24 is also provided with recesses 23 which receive compression springs :it acting upon the inner surface of the cutting block Ifl for biasing the cutting block outwardly,` as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The knife 22, which may be flat or curved to conform to the curvature of the breast portion of the heel, is provided with reduced ends 32 (Fig. 2) for reception in slots formed in the outer ends of plungers 3i which are slidahle in suitable apertures formed in the cylindrical Wall portion l2, this Wall portion being increased in thickness at these points to receive the plungers 311. The outer portions of the plungers 3d are threaded for the reception of nuts 36, each plunger carrying a pair of these nuts between which is clamped the reduced extensions of the knife 22, and by means of which the position of the knife may be adjusted with respect to the cutting block.

The inner portions of the plungers 34 are reduced as at 39 (Fig. 2) and are interconnected by means of a bar 4|] which is maintained against the shoulders formed by the reduced portions 39 of the plungers 34. A second bar 42 is also connected to the plungers 34 and is maintained in spaced relationship with respect to the bar 49 by means of spacer sleeves 44 which surround the reduced portions 38 of the plungers 34, the bar 42 being maintained in engagement with the spacer members by means of nuts 46 threaded on the inner portions of the plungers 34, which nuts may be held against rotation by lock washers 58.

Mounted between the bars @t and 92 is a driving member or collar E! (Fig. 1) which is rotatably received by a crank member 52, this crank member being formed as an eccentric portion of a shaft 5d suitably journaled in the frame of the apparatus and provided with a flanged portion 56 which bears against the inner wall of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1. The collar 5) surrounding the eccentric 52 is also flanged as at 58, its iiange being received between the flange 56 and the bars and 42.

Power is supplied to the shaft 5L! for driving the same through a clutch mechanism illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and 3. The outer portion of the shaft 54 is reduced, as at 8G, and iixedly associated therewith as by means of a set screw 62 is a collai` 611 in which is journaled a cylindrical clutch member 65 having an approximately semicylindrical extension as indicated in Fig. 3. To the clutch member 66 is fixed a finger 68 for controlling the position of the clutch member. A spring 'Hl having one end connected to the arm 68 and the other end connected to the collar Sli biases the clutch member 69 toward the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

Rotatably carried by the reduced portion 553 of the shaft 54 is a constantly driven member 'l2 which is shown for purposes of illustration as a V-pulley, which may be belted to a suitable driving means, and connected as by a pin 'M is a toothed member 16 which rotates within an enlarged opening formed in the outer end of the collar 64 when the clutch parts are disengaged. However, when the clutch member 96 is moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 by means of the spring 10, one of the teeth of the member t6 will move into contact with the flat side of the clutch member 66 and in this manner a driving connection is formed between the constantly driven member l2 and the shaft 56 by means of which a reciprocating motion is imparted to the knife 22 through the eccentric 52 and the collar 59 which acts between the bars 49 and ft2. However, if the finger G8 be moved upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, a sufficient distance to rotate the clutch member 65 through 90, there will be no portion of this clutch member projecting into the path of the teeth of the member 'I6 so that this member will then be permitted to rotate with respect to the collar S and the shaft 54 will, therefore, be disconnected from the toothed member 16 and may remain at rest.

In order normally to hold the arm 63 in the position wherein the clutch member G6 is out of the path of the teeth of the member 16, a movable stop or abutment member 89 is provided.

This member 89 is generally U-shaped and includes an arm 82 which is normally located in the path of movement of the finger 68, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to hold the nger 68 in its upper position or on the other side of the arm '62 from the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The member 89 has a cylindrical extension 85 slidable in bearings formed in the frame of the apparatus. and a collar 38 is fixed to the cylindrical portion 86 and forms a shoulder against which a compression spring 9i) acts, the other end of this compression spring bearing against a bracket 92 secured to the frame cf the machine by means of a screw or screws 9G. The spring 9G biases the stop member 8i) to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1. For holding the stop 8|] in the position illustrated when the machine is not operating, a lever 96 is provided, this lever being pivoted to the bracket 92 as at 98 and having at its left end a right angular extension |95 which forms a latch to hold the collar 88 from moving toward the left under the influence of the spring 90. The right end of the lever 99 is received by the reduced portion 26 of the movable guide member 22 which forms the extension of the cutting block I4 so that when the cutting block is in its outermost position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the left end of the lever 95 is maintained in latching engagement with the collar 83 so as to prevent the stop 59 from moving toward the left under the influence of the spring 9S. However, when the cutting block lli is moved inwardly, the lever 96 is rocked thereby about the pivot 98 in a direction to remove the stop |99 from the path of movement of the collar 8S so that the stop 80 is moved toward the left and the arm 82 moves out of the path of movement of the finger 63 of the clutch member B. The spring 'Hl now causes the finger E3 to move downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3, so that the clutch member 66 will be engaged by one of the teeth of the member 16 to establish a driving connection between the shaft 54 and the driving pulley 12 whereupon the knife 22 is moved toward and away from the cutting block.

In order that the rotation of the shaft terminate after it has completed a single revolution, providing that the pressure on the cutting block it has been relieved, the other arm |04 of the movable stop member is provided with an inclined cam surface |96 which lies in the path of movement of a boss |98 connected to the collar 913 so that, as the collar 64 rotates, the boss |08 will move into contact with the cam surface |06 on th-e arm and will cause movement of this arm to the right which in turn causes the arm 82 to move into the path of movement of the nger 69 of the clutch member 56. As the finger 58 moves into engagement with the arm 82 the nger will be moved upwardly and the clutch member 55 will be rotated out of clutching engagement with the teeth of member 'I6 against the inuence of the biasing spring 1|). If pressure has been relieved from the cutting block I4 at this time, it will move outwardly under the inuence of the springs Si] and thus cause the left end of the lever 96 to move upwardly as viewed in Fig. 1 whereupon the portion |00 will engage the left side of the collar 83 thus to hold the stop 8i! in the position illustrated. In order to insure that the clutch member 66 will move entirely out of engagement with the teeth of the member 76 against the inuence of the spring i0, a spring H9 (Fig. 2) is connected to a pin |2 mounted on the bar 69 and a pin H4 mounted on the collar 50, and this spring acts in a direction to move the trimming knife outwardly away from the cutting block to counteract the force of the spring 'I0 so that the clutch member lili will not remain partially in engagement with the teeth of member 'I6 which would tend to cause wear on the teeth and on the clutch member.

Inward movement of the cutting block I4 by pressure on the cutting block alone is prevented by means of a slidable latch member |20 which has a reduced end portion engaging with the reduced portion 26 of the extension 22 of the cutting block I4. When the latch |29 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 inward movement of the cutting block is prevented but, upon movement of the latch I2@ toward the right, the block I4 may be moved inwardly under the influence of pressure applied thereto, as through the heel of a shoe presented to the cutting surface. The latch |253 is connected by means of a link |24 to an arm |26 of a rocker its. This rocher E28 is pivoted at it@ between a pair of ears 32 only one of which is illustrated (Fig. 1) and which form a part of a removable cover plate |34 by means of which access may be had to the interior of the machine. The rocker |28 is recessed at |38 to receive a plunger Hill biased outwardly with respect to the rocker by means of a spring M2. The outer end of the plunger it@ rests upon the cover plate i3d of the machine, the spring |42 acting between the plunger and the rocker to bias the rocker lili in a direction to move the latch I2@ into latching engagement with the cutting block.

Adjustably carried by the rocker l2@ is a gage member IM which is positioned to be engaged by the 'iorepart of a shoe when the heel portion is properly presented to the cutting block I4. When pressure is applied through the forepart of the shoe to the gage Mft, the rocker itt moves against the force oi the spring it? so as to release the latch member I2@ from the cutting block and thus permit movement of the cutting block inwardly under the inuence of pressure applied thereto through the heel of the shoe. In order to limit the movement of the rocker |28 and, accordingly, the movement of the gage Ili with respect to the machine, an adjustable stop Uitl is provided, this stop being in the form of a screw threaded through a portion of the rocker illl and held in adjusted position by means oi a .lock nut lill).

A :Ielt member comprising portions It@ surrounding the spacer sleeves fifi and having an intermediate portion ii (Fig l) overlying the end of the eccentric portion of the shaft 54 is provided ior maintaining the collar Fili and associated parts properly lubricated, the telt IEE! surrounding the lower spacer members it (Fig. 2) and absorbing oil which may be maintained in the casing below the same.

The operation oi the machine will now be briefly reviewed. Upon the proper presentation of a shoe to the machine, as indicated by Fig. 1, the gage member IM which is engaged by the forcpart of a shoe, is moved inwardly under the iniiuence oi pressure exerted by operator on the 'lorepart of the shoe to release the latch |29 from engagement with the extension 22 of the cutting block lli. Pressure applied through the heel of the shoe by the voperator will then cause movement of the cutting block I4 inwardly with respect to the frame of the machine whereupon the left end of the lever 96 will be moved out of engagernent with the collar iii connected to the extension Sii of the stop member 8|). The spring @il will now force the stop member B toward the left whereupon the arm 82 moves out of registry with the arm E3 of the clutch member 66, and the spring 'it moves this arm in a direction so that the fiat side of the clutch member t6 will be moved into the path of movement of the teeth of member 'it and a driving engagement eiiected. between the driving pulley 'iii and the shaft titl. The rotation of the shaft 54 will cause the knife 22 to move toward the cutting block Ifl whereupon the knife 22 will trim on the breast portion of the top lift ci the heel providing that the heel, when presented to the cutting block, has its breast portion in engagement with the side of the knife. As soon as the knife has moved toward the cutting block and has trimmed off the breast portion of the top liit the shoe will be removed by the operator relieving pressure applied to the cutting block and to the gage Ilfl. As the shait 54 continues to rotate, the knife 2E will move away from the cutting block and the boss litt, carried by the collar titi which rotates with the shaft 54, will engage the inclined surface mit of the stop member Bb to force the stop member toward the right whereupon the arm E2 will move back into the path oi movement of the finger 63 and, upon further rotation, the nger will move in a direction to rotate the clutch member @E out of clutching engagement with the member lli. Since pressure has no-w been released from the cutting block HI it will move outwardly which will in turn cause the stop Ilii to move into engagement with the collar 85 and hold the stop member Bil in the position illustrated in Fig. l until another cycle of operation, as described above, has been initiated.

Should the operator present the shoe to the cutting block and the gage member IM but fail to bring the breast portion of the heel into engagement with the knife 22, the knife will operate as aforedescribed but will not trim the breast portion of the top lift iiush with the breast of the heel, but no harm will be done as the operator can repeat the operation with the breast portion of the heel in engagement with the knife. As long as the gage Hill is properly adjusted, under no circumstances will the machine operate to trim the top lift, except in the plane of the breast of the heel or in a plane parallel thereto, should the breast portion of the heel not be brought into contact with the 'trimming knife. The gage Mt cooperates with the cutting surface 2li of the cutting block Hi to insure that under no circumstances will the machine operate unless the breast face oi the heel is at the proper angle with respect to the cutting surface of the cutting block i4. The stop itt should be adjusted so that the movement oi the gage member IM will be substantially the same as the movement oi the cutting block ill so 'that the angular relationship between the breast face of the heel and the cutting surface oi the block M will not change as the gage memcutting block move under the influence oi pressure applied thereto through the shoe by the operator. The gage Illibe suitably adjusted to adapt the machine to shoes of varying designs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States is:

l. In an apparatus for operating on a work piece, a yielding abutment movable from a rst position to a second position in response to pressure applied by the presentation of a work piece thereto, means operated by movement of the abutment to the second position for causing an operation to be performed on said work piece, and means acting on said abutment and normally preventing movement of said abutment upon the application of pressure thereto from the first position to the second position but permitting such movement when the Work piece is presented to the abutment at a predetermined angular relationship with respect thereto.

2. In an apparatus for operating on a work piece, a yielding work engaging abutment movable from a first position to a second position, means responsive to movement of the abutment to the second position for causing an operation to be performed on the work piece, means normally preventing movement of the abutment fiom the first position to the second position, and a movable gage member operatively connected to said last-named means and operating to render said last-named means inoperative when said gage is displaced by a portion of said work piece.

3. In an apparatus for operating on a Work piece, rst movable gage means adapted to be engaged by one portion of a work piece and to be moved from a rst position to a second position upon the application of pressure thereto by the work piece, second movable gage means adapted to be engaged by a second portion of said work piece 4and movable from a first position to a second position` under the influence of pressure applied thereto by said work piece, an operating member for operating on said work piece and operative in response to movement of said first gage means to said second position, and means preventing movement of said rst gage means to said second position until the second gage means has been moved from its first position to its second position.

4. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of an attached heel, a cutting block, a trimming knife cooperatingr with said cutting block, and means actuated by the application of pressure to said cutting block by a heel with the breast portion of the heel in a predetermined angular relationship with respect thereto for causing relative movement between the trimming knife and the cutting block.

5. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of an attached heel, a trimming member, a positioning device for the heel of a shoe, a positioning device for the forepart of a shoe, and means responsive to the application of pressure to both of said positioning devices for causing the operation of said trimming member.

6. In an apparatus for trimming the top lift of a heel, a cutting block, a trimming knife cooperating with said cutting block for trimming the breast portion of the top lift of a heel presented thereto, means operative upon pressure applied to said cutting block by means of the presentation of a heel thereto for causing relative movement between said cutting block and said trimming knife to perform a trimming operation, and means for preventing said relative movement unless the heel is presented to said trimming block with the breast portion thereof at a predetermined angle with respect thereto.

'7. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of an att-ached heel, a cutting block movable upon the application of pressure thereto from a first position to a second position, a trimming knife cooperating with said l ai; ma..

cutting block, means responsive to movement of said cutting block to said second position for causing operation of said trimming knife, means normally preventing movement of said cutting block to said second position, and gage means adapted to be engaged by the forepart of a shoe when the heel is presented to the cutting block with the breast portion thereof at a predetermined angle with respect thereto and arranged to render said last named means inoperative to prevent movement of the cutting block when so engaged.

8. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of an attached heel, a cutting block, a trimming knife cooperating therewith to trim the breast edge of the top lift of a heel applied to the cutting block, gage means adapted to be engaged by another portion of the shoe to insure a predetermined angular relationship between the cutting block and the breast portion of the heel, and means operative only upon application of pressure to the cutting block by the heel. and application of pressure to the gage means by the other portion of the shoe to cause operation of said trimming knife.

9. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top liit of an attached heel, a cutting block, a trimming knife cooperating therewith to trim the breast edge of the top lift of a wood heel applied to the cutting block, gage means adapted to be engaged by another portion of the shoe to insure a predetermined angular relationship between the cutting block and the breast portion of the heel, means operative only upon application or pressure to the cutting block by the heel and application of pressure to the gage means by the other portion of the shoe to cause operation of said trimming knife, and means for causing relative adjustment of the positions of said cutting block and said gage means whereby the predetermined angular relationship between the heel of the shoe and the cutting block may be varied.

10. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of an 'attached heel, a resiliently mounted cutting block, trimming means cooperating therewith, means responsive to movement of said cutting block under the application of pressure thereto by means of a heel attached to a shoe for causing operation of said trimming means, means normally preventing yielding movement of the cutting block, and yieldable gage means arranged to be engaged by the forepart of a shoe when the heel is properly positioned with respect to the cutting block and arranged to permit movement of said cutting block when moved under the application of pressure thereto by the operator through the forepart of the shoe, the range of movements of the cutting block and the gage means being substantially the same so that the angular relationship between the heel of the shoe and the cutting block will not very appreciably as pressure is applied to the cutting block and the gage means through the shoe by the operator.

l1. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of a heel, a resiliently mounted cutting block, trimming means cooperating therewith for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of a heel, driving means for causing relative movement between said cutting block and trimming means, a clutch for controlling said movement by said driving means, means responsive to movement of said cutting block under the iniiuence of pressure applied through the heel thereto by an operator for causing operation of said clutch to initiate a trimming operation, 'and means normally preventing movement of said cutting block under the application of pressure thereto and arranged to permit such movement only upon the presentation of a heel to the cutting block at a predetermined angular relationship with respect thereto.

12. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of a heel, a resiliently mounted cutting block, trimming means cooperating therewith for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of a heel, driving means for causing relative movement between said cutting block and trimming means, a clutch for controlling said movement by said driving means, means responsive to movement of said cutting block under the influence of pressure applied through the heel thereto by an operator for causing operation of said clutch to initiate a trimming operation, means normally preventing movement of said cutting block under the application of pressure thereto and adapted to permit such movement only upon the presentation of a heel to the cutting block at a predetermined angular relationship with respect thereto, and means operative upon release of pressure from said cutting block to terminate the trimming operation at a predetermined time.

13. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of an attached heel, a cutting block movable from a rst position to a second position upon the application of a heel thereto, latching mechanism normally preventing such movement, a gage operatively connected to said latching mechanism and adapted to be engaged by the forepart of a shoe for moving the latching mechanism out of latching engagement with said cutting block, trimming means cooperating with said cutting block and operative in response to movement of said cutting block to said second position, and means for causing operation of said apparatus for at least a predetermined length of time after movement of said cutting block to said second position.

14. In an apparatus for trimming the breast edge of the top lift of an attached heel, a movable cutting block, a knife movable toward and away from said cutting block to perform a trimming operation on the top lift of a heel, means Fil responsive to movement of said cutting block from a rst position to a second position by the application of a heel thereto under pressure for causing movement of said trimming knife toward and away from said cutting block, said means comprising a single revolution clutch arranged to terminate the operation of said trimming knife upon the completion of a single cycle of operation thereof, and means engageable and movable by the forepart of a shoe and arranged to prevent movement of said cutting block under the application of pressure thereto except when engaged and moved by the forepart of the shoe.

15. In an apparatus for operating on a Work piece, a power operated tool, a plurality of gages for determining the position of a work piece relative to said tool, and means operative only in response to the simultaneous action of pressure by said work piece on all of said gages for operating said tool.

16. In an apparatus for operating on a work piece, a power operated tool, driving means therefor, a clutch for connecting said tool to said driving means, a plurality of gages for determining the position .of a work piece relative to said tool, and means operative only in response to the simultaneous application of pressure by said work piece on all of said gages for operating said clutch to connect said tool to said driving means.

17. In an apparatus for operating on a work piece, a reciprocable operating member, a plurality of gages for determining the position of a work piece relative to said operating member, and means operative only in response to the simultaneous application of pressure by said Work piece on all of said gages for moving said operating member to and away from the work piece.

18. In an apparatus for operating on a work piece, a reciprocable operating member, driving means therefor, a single revolution clutch for connecting said operating member to said driving means, a plurality of gages for determining the position of a work piece relative to said operaing member, and means operative only in response to the simultaneous application of pressure by said work piece on all of said gages for operating said clutch to connect said member to said driving means and cause movement of said member to and away from said work piece.

FRANCIS L. BRANDT.

CERTIFICATE 0E CORRECTION. l Patent No. A2, alpe, 66A, Junezli, 19m.

FRANCIS L.. BRANDT.

It is hereby certified that errorappears ithe printed specfQiication of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page h., second Column, line 65, claim lO, for the word "very" read --varyv-e; Ypage 5, second column, line LAE-141A, claim 18, for "operaing" read operating-u; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinl that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 5ta day of August, A. D. 19141 lHenry Van Arsdale, (Seal) v Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

